PESHAWAR: A two-day book fair held at Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIK) drew large crowds of students, book enthusiasts, and faculty members from various engineering and management disciplines on Wednesday.
The fair was inaugurated by GIK Institute’s Rector, Prof Dr Fazal Ahmad Khalid, accompanied by deans, directors, faculty, and department heads at the main library.In his remarks, Prof Khalid said that the fair offered faculty members an excellent opportunity to select books for their fields, with chosen books later purchased by the Institute for the library, making them accessible to both students and academics.
Dr Khalid, alongside the deans, visited each stall, exploring new arrivals and selecting various titles on the spot. “Reading new books enables both students and faculty to keep their knowledge current in today’s rapidly changing world,” he said.
Mohammad Riaz, head of the GIK Institute library, said that 16 suppliers and booksellers participated in the event, primarily from Lahore and Islamabad, showcasing books on topics ranging from engineering and management to social sciences, history, current affairs, and literature. The suppliers offered discounts of 25% to 50% on many titles. Imran Aslam, a bookseller from Islamabad, stated that the fair provided a unique chance to connect with students and sell a significant number of books. He added that it also introduced students to their business, encouraging them to visit his store in Islamabad when needed.
Sadia Asghar, a data science student, said she always takes advantage of book fairs for discounted prices, noting that shops rarely offer such concessions.A notable trend was the high interest in literature books among students, who mentioned that they read these works to enhance their English vocabulary, writing skills, and speaking fluency.
